Online Desk : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today hoped that members of the armed forces would continue to uphold the glory of the country by contributing to development activities alongside protecting the sovereignty.

“I desire that you (members of armed forces) would be admired everywhere for your discipline and professional skills, (and) you can uphold the glory of the country by contributing to the development activities alongside protecting the sovereignty,” she told a reception at Dhaka Cantonment here.

From her official residence Ganabhaban, the premier virtually joined the function held at Senakunja marking the Armed Forces Day-2021.

She recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had said - “The Bangladesh Army will be the people`s army”.

Sheikh Hasina said, “I believe that the armed forces, inspired by the ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the spirit of the War of Liberation, are the pride of our nation.

Mentioning that November 21 occupies a special glorious place in the history of the country’s great War of Independence, she said on this day in 1971, the fearless members of the army, navy and air force launched a joint offensive against the occupation forces to accelerate the victory of the war.

She recalled that in early December, the Pakistani occupation forces were forced to surrender after a united offensive carried out by the allied forces along with the combined forces.

The Prime Minister said the nation remembers with deep respect the great sacrifices and heroism of the members of the armed forces in the War of Independence.

Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Prime Minister`s Security Affairs Adviser Major General (Rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, among others, were present at Senakunja. BSS